Communications and Networking Systems Laboratory
  (CNSL)

The Communications and Networking Systems Laboratory investigates all aspects of information processing and transport. Faculty and graduate students in CNSL work on high-capacity networks, optical systems, agile and software defined radios, innovative transmitter and receiver design, and reliable and robust mobile networks. The laboratory integrates leading edge research with practical implementation and applications. The focus of CNSL is to efficiently deliver reliable communications services across a wide range of challenging mediums to user applications. Recent projects involve radio design, Bluetooth and RFID evaluation, optical sensors for biology, and radio spectrum measurement and management.

Lab Resources

Optical spectrum analyzer
50GHz microwave network analyzer
40GHz digital oscilloscope
Tunable laser sources and optical filters
40Gb/s and 12 Gb/s BERTs
Electro-optic modulators, WDM multiplexers, demultiplexers
High-speed photodetectors
Commercial WDM systems at OC192 and OC48 data rates
High-speed digital T/R rooftop antenna
360 km of fiber installed for systems-level testing
DSP rapid prototyping system
Circuit board fabrication facility
Logic analyzers
Network analyzers
Spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes and function generators
Prototype PC board fabrication tools
RF signal generators
Variety of DSP platforms and evaluation tools
Extensive wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) networks
RFID performance benchmarking facilities
Bluetooth evaluation facilities
Connection to Sunflower Broadband's cable modem and TV Network

Extensive high-speed networking infrastructure: connected to high-speed, wide-area networks; Sprint testbed connection at 40 GB/s; Internet2, CAIRN testbeds for coast-to-coast experimentation; wide variety of routers, switches, and network interfaces

Hardware and software design experience: developed 622 Mb/s ATM switch hardware, network testing and measurement tools, network simulation and modeling tools, early Web applications and servers, integrated wireless mobile systems with fixed networks